Reflecting device



v Dec. 24; 1929. ZEAHNDER 1,741,087

REFLECTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 192

i 5 i I #4 12 i 9 I A a 9 I \L 13 V I N VENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics LOUIS RAYMONDZEHNDER, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE LAS- SIGNMENTS,'I'O LOUISVILLE FROG, SWITCH KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION & SIGNAL COMPANY,OF LOUISVILLE,

REFLECTIN G DEVICE Application filed May 5, 1928. Serial No. 275,534.

This invention relates to a lens cap, holder or carrier for use inconnection with reflector devices of that type whereby incidental lightis reflected so as to illuminate advertising signs, signals and thelike, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier forming one of theelements of and arranged relative to the other elements of a reflectingdevice for securing the elements of the latter together to provide aunit, and further with the cap, holder or carr er serving as a means forsecuring the unit to the object in which it is to be placed, that 15 thebase of a sign or signal.

A further object of the invention ls to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a

lens cap, holder or carrier for a reflecting device in a manner wherebya reflector and a large part of the lens, forming elements of thereflector device are enclosed by the cap to provide a unit.

A further object of the invention 1s toprovide, in a mannerashereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder 'or carrier forming one of theelements of and arranged relatively to the other elements of areflecting device for securing'the elements of the latter together toprovide a unit and further wherebythe cap, holder or carrier hasinherent portions therof providing means for anchoring it in the base ofa sign or signal whereby the unit is secured in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in amanner ashereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or .carrier for a reflectingdevice with spaced inherent means for air choring it in the base of asign or signal.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in amanner ashereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier for a reflectingdevice which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable, compact, thoroughly eificient in its use, conveniently unitedwith a lens to enclose a large part thereof, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto apended.

In the drawings whe ein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views Figure l is an elevation of areflecting device having as an element thereof a lens cap, holder orcarrier in accordance with this invention and furtherillustrating afragmentary portion of a base in section having the reflecting deviceanchored therein and projected therefrom.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the lens cap, holder orcarrier shown in vertical section and further illustrating the reflectoron the inner face of the inner end or bottom of the lens cap, holder orcarrier.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the reflecting device anchored within abase.

F i2gure 4 is a section online 44 Fig ure The lens cap, holder orcarrier will be hereinafter termed a holder and the latter is of lesslength than the lens which is mounted therein. The lens as illustratedis of the bi-convex type and comprises a cylindrical body portion 5 ofthe desired length and an outer convex end 6 and an inner convex end 7.The lens is generally indicated at 8. The lens is of a length to havethe body portion thereof extend a substantial distance from the outerface of the base 9 when the reflecting device is anchored to the latter.The base 9 is formed with a socket 10 for the reception of thereflecting device and the The body portion '12 of the holder 11 extendsfrom the inner end 7 of the lens 8 to a point in proximity to the outerend 6 of lens 8. The holder 11 is formed with a closed inner end 13 ofconvex curvature and which has a reflecting medium 14 positionedthroughout the inner face thereof, and said medium can be provided bysilvering the inner face of .Jthe' inner end 14 or said medium can beset up in any manner desired. The inner end 7 of the lens 8 seatsthroughout against the re- 15 each consisting of an outer wall 16, and

p a pair of side wa 17, 18 thereby providing theinner face of the bodyportion 12 with a series of spaced grooves 19. The walls 16 inclineoutwardly from their'inner to their outer ends and each wall 16 isknurled, serrated orotherwise formed in a manner to grip the wall of thesocket 10. As illustrated I Each wall 16 is formed with a series ofteeth Each of the extensions 15 extends substantially from thetransverse median of the body 12 to the outer edge thereof.

T e grooves 19 in connection with the body portion 5 of the lens 8 formaseries of pockets for the reception of a combined sealing and securingme ium 21, which acts .in a manner to secure the holder 11'to the lens 8and also which will prevent moisture and foreign matters from getting incontact with the reflector and destroying its reflecting qualities.

Thelens employed may be of'plano-convex, bi-convex or convex-concavecontour.

That part of. the body portion 12 of the holder 11, other than theextensions 15, snugly engages the body portion5 of the lens 8.

The teeth 20 provide the extensions 15 with what may be termed barbedmeans which holds the .unit in place after it has been driven intotheboard or metal holder.- When using metal however, the socket will haveto be nearl as large as the extreme largest diameter 0 the unit for thereception of the latter, or otherwise when forcing the unit in positionthe sealing material between the lens and the cap will be crushed. Thebarbed means engage wlth the wall of the socket 10 for the "purpose ofanchoring the unit in position.

The reflecting unit is commonly used in the construction of roadindicators and other signs which at night are illuminated or renderedvisible by the reflection of light coming from the lamps of motorvehicles or some other extraneous source. The unit can be arran ed inany manner desired. Although t eunit is designed primarily for roadindicators and other signs, yet it is to be understood that it can beemployed for formmg symbols, letters, figures and also in connectionwith buoys or for any other purposes for which it is found applicable.

It is thought the many advantages of a reflecting device or unit inaccordance with this invention, more particularly the lensholder formingan element thereof, can be readily understood, and although thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of constructioncan be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

vIVhat I claim is:

1. In a reflecting device,-a lens holder comprising a lens-receivinghollow body closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, and saidbody having spaced, laterallydisposed, lengthwise extendingperipheraloffset portions of less lengththan the body and providing the latterwith spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said oflset portionsbeing toothed' 2. In a reflecting device, a lens holder comprising alens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open atits outer end, said body portion having spaced, laterally extending,lengthwise disposed, peripheral oifset portions extending from the outerend of the body and terminating at a point removed from the inner endthereof, said offset portions providing the inner face of the body withgrooves, and said ofl'set 'portions being toothed.

3. In a reflecting device, a lens holder comprising a lens receivinghollow body closed at its inner end and. open at its outer end, saidbody having spaced, "la terally disposed, lengthwise extendingperipheral ofi'set portions of less length than, the body and providingthe latter with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said ofi'setportions being toothed, and the said closed inner end of said body beingof convex curvature.

. 4. In areflecting device, a lens holder comprising a lens receivinghollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end,said body port-ion having spaced, laterally extending, lengthwisedisposed peripheral ofi'set port-ions extending from the outer end'of'thebody and terminating at apoint removed from the inner end thereof,said offset portions providing the inner face of the body with grooves,and said ofl'set portions being toothed, and the said closed inner endof said body being of convex curvaturej I 5. In a reflecting device alens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body closed at' its'innerend and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterallydisposed, lengthwise extending peripheral ofl'set portions graduallyincreasing in width from the inner to the outer end thereof, saidofi'set p0 tions providing said body with spaced grooves on the innerface thereof.

6. In a reflecting device a lens holder com- V prising a hollow bodyclosed at and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced,laterally disposed, lengthwise its inner end extending oflset portionsgradually increasing in width from, the inner to the outer end thereof,said offset portions providing said' body with spaced grooves on theinner face thereof, and said ofi'set portions being toothed on 'theouter peripheries thereof.

7. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprisnga hollow-body closed atits inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced,laterally disposed, lengthwise extending offset port-ions graduallyincreas ing in width from the inner-to-the outer end thereof, saidoffset portions providing said body with spaced grooves on the innerface thereof, and the closed inner end of said body being of convexcurvature.

8. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a hollow body closedat its inner end and open at its outer elid, said body formed withspaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extendingoffsetportions graduallyincreasing in width from the innerto the outer end thereof, said ofl'setportions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner facethereof, said'oifset portions being toothed on the outerperipheriesthereof, and the closed inner end ofsaidbody being of convex curvature.k

9. In a reflecting device a lens holder com- I prising ahollowbodyjclosed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said bodyformed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending ofi'setportions gradually increasing in width from the inner to the outer endthereof, said offset portions providing said body with spaced grooves onthe inner face thereof, said offset portions terminating at the outeredge of said body. 7

10. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a hollow body closedat its inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed withspaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending offset portionsgradually increasing in width from the inner to the outer end thereof,said ofl'set portions providing said body with spaced grooves on theinner face thereof, said oflset portions being toothed'on the outerperipheries thereof, and said offset 14, In a reflecting device a lensholder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at itsinner end. and open at its outer end, said body portion having its innerface formed with spaced grooves for the reception of means to secure thelens with the holder, that part of the inner face of said body portionother than said grooves being of a diameter to provide for the bodyportion to snugly fit the lens.

15. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receivinghollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end,said body portion having its inner face formed with spaced grooves forthe reception of means to secure the lens with the holder, that part ofthe inner face of said body portion other than said grooves being of adiameter to provide for the body portion to snugly-fit the-lens, saidbody portion hav.- ing its outer periphery toothed at spaced points.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

LOUIS RAYMOND ZEHNDER.

portions terminating at the outer edge of said body.

11. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receivinghollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end,said body portion provided with inherent, spaced, laterally projectingoppositely disposed means to provide for the anchoring of the holder inposition.

12. In a reflector device a lens holder comprising a lens receivinghollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end,and said body portion having the outer part thereof provided withlengthwise ex-

